Pin the Tail

Who do you want judging you, your friends, or perhaps even the people you’re not crazy about?

Judges are among the highest paid officeholders in all of local government and once elected, well, they’re on the bench FOREVER.

In today’s H-T Boor Endorsement, a couple of withering facts were omitted in order that nebbishes and dour-sour-faces could justify (how ironic) their endorsement of the Republican Judge candidates. For starters, it is unfortunate that anyone is affiliated with the GOP–but why not disclose/publish the fact that one of the Republican candidates has never tried a case and that a Republican “appointment” can’t be compared to holding office through being ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE?

Since citizens can ELECT Judges to office, the opportunity to ELECT Teresa Harper is a serious chance to infuse the Board of Judges with the presence of mind, intellect, and grace she will carry into the office. Teresa Harper is an eloquent, articulate and passionate practitioner of the law. Her unwavering commitment to social justice is well-known locally and nationally.

Valeri Haughton, a dynamo with warmth, wisdom, and expansive credentials, would be an electrifying force to the Board of Judges and county government. Valeri’s focus on being a judge for all people is at the heart of her public service in all the capacities where she currently does, and will continue, to administer justice. Citizens, particularly our young, need role models and representatives they can relate to; Monroe County desperately needs more community leaders like Valeri Haughton elected to local office.

The public also needs to understand that Judges and their assigned duties may change over time– according to different directions that the Board of Judges might like to take. Philosophies, missions, and situational factors change within the Justice System and with the current space issues that county government is debating over, it is accurate to say we’re in a state of flux. Re-entry court, night court, new v. remodelled structures, juvenile justice facility, jail population, etc. etc. will be hot topics–and they’re simmering to a boil as I write. The increased involvement of the community in the local justice system is also taking effect whereby the conventional models of justice systems may be transformed. Some of our Judges are proactively paying attention to the shifts in the usual paradigms led by groups such as Citizens for Effective Justice–because they’re compelling.

From the vantage point of Councilwoman I have been privileged to speak to, and dialogue with, the Board of Judges on numerous occasions. On a few occasions I’ve been struck by the old-world make-up of the BOJ. It isn’t difficult to imagine them posing for an 18th c. portrait painting with giant powdered wigs with cascading white curls as they pontificate. I’d like to see and hear from a further enlivened body that is open to more diversity. Teresa Harper and Valeri Haughton are the two to bring that much needed modern perspective and robust diversity to the bench. They will awaken the public’s attention to how much of our local government is at the mercy of what does or doesn’t happen on the bench.

These candidates have street cred:

TERESA HARPER: She’s gotten innocent people off of death row, she’s well-known to the communities of Bloomington who deal with hunger issues…she’s at once down-to-earth and then extraordinarily driven and hard-working. She can wilt anyone in debate with her awe-inspiring braininess and, at the same time, she always conveys guiding principles: fairness and caring.

VALERI HAUGHTON: No sense of entitlement from this former deputy prosecutor—While raising children as a single mom, Valeri pursued her law degree at age 40 after working as a social worker with disabled, mentally ill, and senior, citizens. She’s worked on social justice issues locally that encompass community issues (local Afrcian American history, hunger issues, juvenile issues)beyond her direct work with serving justice. Valeri really brings courtroom experience to the bench. It’s exciting that she’s not a Sandra-Dee-goody-two-shoes.

And, oh yes, Valeri, I personally want you to bring back your afro as a visual and symbolic counterpoint to the powdered wigs.
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I’ll be back to talk County Council candidates ASAP…meanwhile, cogitate over what it means for someone to claim credit for “initiating the computerization of the annual budget process…” when County Government only just transitioned from paper and pencils to computer in 2005. Isn’t that phunny?

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 24th, 2006 at 2:08 pm and is filed under Candidates. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.